THE sports hall at Richard Huish College, in Taunton, has been turned into a Covid-19 testing centre for people without symptoms of the virus.

Initially the facility was set up to allow staff, and students taking exams in January to have a test and sit exams with added safety.

In the first week of operating more than 310 tests were carried out, including supporting staff and pupils to be tested.

The college has now extended its services to the local primary schools in and around Taunton to support the community.

Bridgwater Mercury: Images Richard Huish CollegeImages Richard Huish College

Staff across 19 primary schools can now access weekly lateral flow tests at the college to allow them to safely continue operating within their schools for vulnerable and key worker children.

Results are provided within 30 minutes, with quick and easy lateral flow testing administered by a team of newly trained Huish staff and external volunteers who are supporting the college.

Richard Huish Education Group chief executive John Abbott said: ā€œIā€™m delighted we have been able to offer our local primary schools the lateral flow Covid test.

"It always felt amiss that our primary colleagues had not been included in the original list of education providers able to access this test, so being able to share the facilities available at Huish to support our local community is very pleasing.ā€